1. Museum History

The Royal Armouries is Britain’s oldest museum, and one of the oldest museums in the world.

2. Specialist Enquiries

Our team of specialists are able to answer all kinds of enquiries on the subject of arms and armour, related material, and of course its related history and the history of the Tower of London.

3. Tower of London

Admission fee payable for entry to the Tower of London.

Summer:
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday – Monday: 10am – 5.30pm

Winter:
Tuesday – Saturday: 9am – 4.30pm
Sunday – Monday: 10am – 4.30pm

Closed 24-26 December

Tel: 020 3166 6660

4. Events

Over the past 1,000 years the Tower of London has been used as a menagerie, armoury, mint and prison. Today it is a flagship museum showcasing the Royal Armouries’ glittering collection of arms, armour and historical artefacts.

5. Tower and Armouries History

This gallery tells the history of the Royal Armouries and its traditional home, the Tower of London.

6. History of the Collection

A history of the Royal Armouries and its collection from its founding in the Tower of London to the present day.

7. Robert Porrett

A brief account of the life and work of Robert Porrett (1783-1868)

8. Science Outreach and Access

Royal Armouries at the Tower of London offers a wide variety of sessions, both on-site and as outreach, to suit users from Access, Early Years and Community groups.

9. Access sessions

Education session for users with special educational needs.

10. Early Years sessions

Royal Armouries staff deliver sessions particularly suitable for Under 5s, both as outreach and on site (on selected dates). These sessions all include a story, some singing, and a craft activity to make sure there’s something for everybody.

11. Community

Royal Armouries at the Tower of London are currently developing a Weapons Awareness programme to be launched in September 2008, as part of our NTK: No To Knives campaign.

12. Science Outreach

We offer a number of outreach sessions for schools in material science using objects from our collection.

13. AS and A level

The Royal Armouries at the Tower of London offers bespoke sessions for AS and A level students.

14. Material Science

Your students can now learn about the protective qualities of materials past and present in our brand new, state of the art education facility: VisionWorks Material Science Learning Zone in the Tower Vaults Learning Centre!

15. Tower of London

Interested in innovative science education at a World Heritage site? Visit the VisionWorks Material Science Learning Zone in the Tower Vaults Learning Centre!

16. Key Stage 1

Prepare your Key Stage One pupils for their scientific future with our Top to Toe session. This introduces very young children to the ideas of materials and their properties by learning from a selection of museum objects.

17. Key Stage 2

Key stage 2 sessions in Material Science available at the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London.

18. Hard Hats

Enhance the scientific knowledge of your Key Stage 2 students with our ‘Materials and their properties’ focused ‘Hard Hats’ session. This is a hands-on learning experience which allows children to consider the need for body protection.

19. Walter Ralegh – Prisoner and Scientist

Suitable for older Key Stage Two (Sc3 Separating mixtures of materials) our session Walter Ralegh – Prisoner and Scientist recreates his distillation experiment focusing on the scientific processes involved.

20. Eggstreme Sports

“Eggsamine” different objects from the museums’ collection to discover how we can protect ourselves, then look at some common materials including plastics to see how we can protect our eggs.

21. Creative Copper

Creative Copper is suitable for older Key Stage Two pupils. We use objects from our collection as inspiration for this session as we look at the real science behind the art of armour decoration.

22. Key Stage 3

These are the key stage 3 sessions in Material Science available at the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London in our brand new state-of-the-art learning zone: VisionWorks.

23. Walter Ralegh – Prisoner and Scientist

The pupils will be encouraged to think about various separating techniques and will carry out an experiment linked to these. There will be a reinforcement of scientific language used throughout the QCA “Solutions” topic.

24. How strong is your Longbow?

This session looks at the materials used in the manufacture of a longbow. We will consider the forces involved when the bow is prepared and the energy transfer as the arrow starts to move.

25. Creative Copper

We use objects from our collection as inspiration for this session as we look at the real science behind the art of armour decoration. Suitable for Key Stage 3, by considering the chemical reactions involved and by introducing the properties of metals.

26. Murder at the Tower

Using simple forensic methods including blood spatter, chromatography and hair and fibre analysis, see if you can work out who – or what – done it! This session developed at the Tower has proved very popular with 11-14 year old pupils.

27. A very material mail

Looking at historic armour from our collections, we explore body protection, and how both traditional and modern materials are used. What materials would you choose to protect yourself with? We take an in depth look at Materials and their properties.

28. Is Plastic-fantastic?

Compare historic materials to those used today discovering about polymers and plastics. This session is particularly suitable for those wanting to improve their pupils’ investigative skills (SC1 Scientific Enquiry and SC3 Materials and their properties).

29. Plastic-Fantastic? SLIME

Discover the world of thermoplastics and thermosets with an eye on body protection. A fun way of introducing the ideas behind polymers and plastics in readiness for Key Stage 4.

30. Materials of the Future

Learn what is being developed now in Material Science using museum’s collection to help develop ideas; skills and scientific vocabulary that we can then use when look at smart and modern materials through demonstrations and experiments.

31. Eggstreme sports

Using objects from the museum’s collection to discover how we can protect ourselves, then look at some common materials including plastics to see how we can protect our eggs. Pupils will have the chance to design, make and test ‘body protect our eggs!

32. Key Stage 4

These are the key stage 3 sessions in Material Science available at the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London in our brand new state-of-the-art learning zone: VisionWorks.

33. A very material mail

This session turns the science spotlight on our collections and explores the challenges of personal protection and its progression. Using historic armour we explore body protection, and how both traditional and modern materials are used.

34. Is Plastic-fantastic?

We compare historic materials to those used today discovering about polymers and plastics. Suitable for Key Stage Four (Useful products from organic sources).

35. Plastic-Fantastic? SLIME

Discover the world of thermoplastics and thermosets with an eye on body protection using our museum’s collection. This session fits in well with the ‘Polymer and Plastics’ sections for Key Stage Four.

36. Materials of the Future

Use the museum’s collection to help develop ideas; skills and scientific vocabulary to look at smart and modern materials through demonstrations and experiments. Suitable for Key Stage Four (_Materials, Polymers and 21st Century Science.

37. Pre-visit familiarisation

We strongly recommend that group leaders who plan to bring an education group to the Royal Armouries make a familiarisation visit first.

38. The Arms and Armour Society

The Arms and Armour Society is one of the leading groups in the world of those concerned with the study, collection and preservation of arms and armour.

39. Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill

A stunning new exhibition in the iconic White Tower at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London.

Opens April 2009

40. Be Inspired-by some of our projects

We thought you might find inspiration in some of the projects we have been involved in recently. If you are interested in working with us on a project please contact us.

41. Torture

The Tower is often linked with torture and execution.

42. Execution

Many prisoners, whether they had been tortured or not, only left the Tower to go to their execution.

43. Execution swords

Beheading by sword was popular on the Continent, whereas the axe was more commonly used in England.

44. Block and Axe

For important state prisoners or people of noble birth, executions were carried out by beheading. This was considered the swiftest, least brutal method.

45. Special Visits

During the summer programme we are pleased tp present various special visits from those who work at the Tower of London, like the Yeoman Warders (beefeaters) and the Raven Keeper.

46. Action Packed Drama

Experience moments in history through gripping performances from our team of professional interpreters.

47. Interactives

Try these fun interactive activities about the history of the Tower of London.

48. Royal Menagerie

In this fun interactive timeline you can discover about the Tower of London’s Royal Menagerie.

49. Prisoners in the Tower

In this fun interactive game you can discover about some of the Tower of London’s most famous prisoners.

50. Malcolm Mercer

Malcolm Mercer is Curator of Tower History at the Royal Armouries Museum based at the Tower of London.